Do You Have a Snoring Spouse? Here Are a Few Tips for Sleeping Through the Night

It’s not always easy to tell your partner that because of his/her snoring, you aren’t able to get a good night’s sleep. Even though snoring is a common problem and affects an estimated 37 million Americans on a regular basis, most people are still self-conscious about their snoring. It’s sometimes easier to tell your partner that you didn’t sleep well because you were too cold or hot (around 86% of people wake up at night because of a temperature-related issue) or because you were worrying about work the next day (four out of 10 adults say they rarely sleep well on weeknights, and work stress has a lot to do with this).

The big problem is that if you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, your mental and physical health will start to suffer. So what can you do if your partner’s snoring is keeping you awake?

Start the conversation. Your partner probably isn’t even aware of the snoring. It’s easy for someone to be in denial when you first tell them that they’re snoring; after all, if it’s that loud, wouldn’t it wake them up too? In truth, most people aren’t woken up by their own snores.

Buy earplugs and/or noise cancelling headphones. This option is very effective but may not be the best one for individuals who sleep on their sides.

Make adjustments to the environment. If the snoring has started suddenly, it could be due to an environmental issue like spring allergies or from dry sinuses in the winter.

Evaluate the comfort and placement of your bed. A traditional flatbed might actually be contributing to the snoring (along with many other problems).